Govt exempts 5 healthcare sectors from 45-hour work week

Summary

• Five healthcare sectors are exempt from working 45 hours per week.

• They are nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the emergency department, assistant medical officers and healthcare assistants.

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The government is exempting five healthcare sectors from working 45 hours per week.

The Public Services Department said nurses, community nurses, medical officers in the Emergency Department, assistant medical officers and healthcare assistants will continue to work 42 hours per week.

This latest decision will involve 82,637 health workers.

"The government is aware of and concerned about the concerns raised by health workers regarding the implementation of 45-hour working hours per week under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).

"Having thoroughly examined the operational requirements and the nature of the critical tasks carried out by health workers who are directly involved in saving the lives of patients from bed to bed without counting the time, the government sees that such responsibilities demand an extraordinary level of physical, mental and emotional readiness," it said in a statement today.

On May 13, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the extension of the moratorium related to the implementation of a 45-hour work week for nurses.

This was to enable the Health Ministry to examine and understand the issues on the matter before presenting recommendations to the cabinet on July 1, he said.

In February, he told the Dewan Rakyat that more time was needed before implementing the new policy.

The directive was supposed to take effect on Dec 1 last year.

DAP senator lauds decision

In an immediate response, Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran welcomed the government's announcement, calling the decision "a relief".

"This is a great recognition of the sacrifices, hardships and perseverance of our health workers who work day and night to save lives regardless of the time," he said in a statement today.

The DAP leader thanked all who fought against the implementation of the policy, hoping it would be the start of more moves to appreciate civil servants.

He went on to say the announcement reflects the Madani government’s values of humanity and kindness.

Several healthcare worker groups slammed the 45-hour work week policy, expressing their belief that it should be repealed due to concerns that it will negatively impact overburdened nurses.

The decision was also greeted negatively by opposition lawmakers, with Temerloh MP Salamiah Mohd Nor questioning why the Health Ministry was refining the policy after the directive was issued.

Previously, health portal CodeBlue reported that the 45-hour work week for nurses is longer than Singapore (minimum 38 hours to maximum 42 hours), Indonesia (40 hours), and the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (38.5 hours).

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